Published by graphic novel specialists SelfMadeHero, Romo The Wolfboy is a weighty but accessible tale set in the boisterous and colourful world of the Victorian travelling circus. Written for a broad audience – author and veteran illustrator Ilya notes, in an appendix, a very deliberate intention to appeal to children growing out of Dog Man and The Phoenix, but also that he is a believer in all-ages marketing – the fast-paced storyline is matched by illustrations that whirr with energy, sketchy and full of vigour.
The story follows two young members of the circus: Romo The Wolfboy, a kind of Mowgli/Tarzan figure beset by traumatic flashbacks to his capture, and his fellow young performer Francis X. Together, they uncover the secrets behind a succession of sabotage attempts on Blimey O’Riley’s Travelling Circus.
Undeniably, Ilya has landed on a fascinating world in which to develop his characters, and makes no secret of the plans to turn this into a long-running series. The writing will need to sharpen up to keep the attention of a growing audience though. For all that he might have created a punchily visual context for this tale, the story itself is lacking in wit, the dialogue at times basic and the writing short on subtext. There is promise here, though, and the effort put into the book is undeniable, as laid out in the fascinating appendices in which the author discusses his inspiration for various panels. It will be interesting to follow the next adventure of Romo and Francis.
